<p>BOURG — Boats festooned with Christmas lights — and one toting Santa Claus — once again drifted down Bayou Terrebonne in what has become a holiday tradition.</p><p>Decorated trawlers and Carolina skiffs lined up Saturday night behind the Bourg Volunteer Fire Department, near the St. Ann Bridge, for the annual Bayou Terrebonne Christmas Boat Parade.</p><p>About 10 boats showed up for the event this year, gliding down the bayou to Montegut's Dugas Cemetery. Along the water, families had built bonfires meant to guide Santa's boat.</p><p>More boats usually tag along on the way down, said Kevin Belanger, whose 60-foot boat, called the Genesis, acts as the lead boat</p><p>It was guided by Terrebonne Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, who was dressed up as Santa.</p><p>“Make sure you leave Santa some cookies this year,” Larpenter told a curious youngster. “Santa likes chocolate chip.”</p><p>Belanger said the parade has been going on since the late 1980s. </p><p>“It's just a group of boat owners coming together to show a common appreciation for the holidays,” he said. “I love it.”</p><p>John Seebode, of Houma, said this is his first time in the parade. His sleek yellow boat, the Ms. Kinley, brimmed with people on its deck. Underneath were blue lights, which illuminated the water. </p><p>“You couldn't have anything like this anywhere else,” Seebode said. “Family members light bonfires and bands play for you the whole way down. It's just everybody getting together to have a party.”</p><p>Belanger said this is a family tradition that he expects will continue to grow and get even better.</p><p>“It's great being able to enlighten people about the area,” he said. “It's great for kids to know that Christmas is coming and that Santa is watching to see who's been naughty or not.”</p>